Cablegate: Some Turkish Ports May Miss Isps Deadline

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ANKARA 002388

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EB/TRA/OTP AND EUR/SE
ROME FOR CUSTOMS/ICE
PARIS FOR TSA
DHS FOR COAST GUARD/MARITIME SECURITY
DEPT PASS TRANSPORTATION DEPT FOR AVIATION/INT AFFAIRS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT PTER ETRD TU
SUBJECT: Some Turkish Ports May Miss ISPS Deadline

Ref: State 85792

Not For Internet Distribution.

1. In an April 13 meeting with Econoff, Okay Kilic and
Nihat Asan, Department Heads at the Turkish Maritime
Undersecretariat, said that Turkish ships should be in
compliance with the International Maritime
Organization's (IMO) International Ship and Port
Facility Security Code (ISPS) by July 1, but that some
ports may not meet the deadline. IMO members will have
the right to turn away ships that have visited ports
which do not meet ISPS standards after July 1.

2. Kilic said that vessels were being evaluated by 10
designated "recognized security organizations" (RSOs).
About 200 of 670 Turkish ships have completed a security
plan and the remainder should comply by July 1.
However, the process for Turkish ports is moving more
slowly. In part, this is due to the fact that only five
RSOs had been designated, although Kilic told us that
further RSOs would be selected. Kilic stated that a
number of Turkey's privately-run port facilities were
apparently resisting this security requirement,
primarily due to the cost of completing an assessment.
Asan estimated that about 60 percent of Turkey's 124
ports should be in compliance with ISPS by July 1,
including the main ports servicing trade with the United
States (Izmir, Istanbul, Mersin). However, the others
are likely to miss the deadline.

3. Kilic and Asan asked whether there is any possibility
of extending the July 1 deadline. Econoff responded
that the ISPS requirement set a firm deadline, but that
he would report the Maritime Undersecretariat's concerns
on this. Kilic and Asan also expressed interest in
visiting a U.S. port to learn about American
implementation of the ISPS. Embassy will relay this
request to the DHS/Coast Guard points of contact listed
reftel.
Edelman

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